Your car has broken down: what to do, step by step

First, get safe

• Turn on your hazard warning lights. At night or in poor visibility, keep your sidelights on too.
• On a motorway or fast road, move left onto the hard shoulder or into an emergency area if you can, with your wheels turned to the left.
• Get everyone out by the left-hand door and stand well away from the traffic — behind the safety barrier if there is one. Leave animals in the vehicle unless it's an emergency.
• If you can't get out safely, or you've stopped in a live lane, stay in the vehicle with your seatbelt on and call 999.
• Don't put a warning triangle out on a motorway. On other roads, put one at least 45 metres behind your vehicle if it's safe to do so.

Then, work out what's wrong

If you're somewhere safe, note what happened: warning lights on the dashboard, noises, smells, smoke, whether it starts at all. A driver or garage will ask, and it helps them bring the right equipment.

Don't try roadside repairs on a motorway hard shoulder. On a quiet street or a car park it may be fine to check simple things like a flat battery, if you know what you're doing.

Getting it moved

If you have breakdown cover, call them first — that's what it's for. If you don't, or they can't help soon, or the car needs to go somewhere they won't take it, you'll need a recovery truck.

Have these ready: exactly where the vehicle is (a what3words address or the nearest junction helps), where it needs to go, the make and model, whether the wheels turn and the steering works, and whether you have the keys.

If it's stuck outside your house

There's no rush to move it if it's legally parked, taxed and not in anyone's way. Book a recovery for a time that suits you, and compare prices rather than taking the first quote.